A negligent personal trainer caused my personal injury

Exercise is a vital part of life for all of us. Not only can it make us feel good, it can help ward off disease, illness, and injury, too. The NHS suggests adults should do a minimum of 150 minutes of exercise each week, along with separate strength exercises to help keep all our major muscles in good shape. Most of us could manage at least some walking (the NHS suggests fast walking to qualify as aerobic activity), but it’s sometimes difficult to figure out which activities we should do for strength. Many people visit the gym, but this isn’t for everyone, and some people never manage to keep it up. Hence why some use personal trainers, and fortunately, the chances of using a negligent personal trainer are incredibly rare.

How useful can a personal trainer be?

Incredibly useful. Many people start out on careers as personal trainers, developing skills they have already learned through being fitness instructors. They must also be trained in first aid with a certificate in providing CPR, in case it should ever be needed. As you can imagine, most personal trainers exceed the requirements they must meet, so the odds of being affected by a negligent personal trainer are very long indeed.

However, it is not impossible that something like this could potentially happen. When you hire a personal trainer, or you use one via your gym or health centre, you expect them to be able to help you get fitter or lose weight (or both). They must be able to tailor their services to suit your needs, and to help you reach your goals safely and effectively. Most people who use personal trainers will never have come across a negligent personal trainer, but it can potentially happen.

How might you suffer if you used services offered by a negligent personal trainer?

Those who have been unlucky in this respect might end up with some serious injuries, or injuries that may prohibit them from taking part in activities for either a short or a long period. Here are just a few injuries someone could potentially experience:

Sprains and strains – if someone is not taught how to exercise properly, sprains and strains are a painful possibility.

Injuries through misuse of equipment – you would expect a personal trainer to show you how to correctly and safely use exercise equipment. If this is not the case, and you are injured, you may be able to claim compensation.

Numerous injuries could be caused by following the instructions of a personal trainer who has not completed the required training and does not have appropriate qualifications.

Injuries caused by the personal trainer failing to allow for existing weaknesses or health problems exhibited by the client.

Could the gym or health centre be negligent?

People in the UK spent 44% more on gyms in 2014 than they did in the previous year. Not only are gyms popular in general, they are also popular places to seek out the services of a personal trainer. You would usually be reassured that any personal trainer working in a gym will have had their credentials and qualifications checked, so there is no chance of them being hired unless they can do the job properly and safely.

Fortunately, this is typically the case. However, if you used the services of a personal trainer at a gym or health centre, and you were injured, you may have a chance to make a compensation claim for negligence against the venue itself. Since they should have checked their qualifications to determine their ability to do the job, this could constitute negligence.

How much could you claim for your injuries caused by a negligent personal trainer?

This would depend on the injuries you suffered. A personal injury lawyer would typically look at your case to determine if you do have a right to make a claim. If they believe you do, they may give you a rough idea of how much you might receive if your claim succeeded. This would be dependent on your specific injuries, on how bad they were, and on the likely outcome following recovery.

For example, a sprained ankle may vary from a mild sprain with little damage that takes perhaps 10 days to heal, to a severe sprain that takes several weeks (possibly months) to get better. Sprains can be included in the orthopaedics area, along with broken bones and similar injuries, since they are all part of the musculoskeletal system. Evidence of attendance at your GP, or at a hospital casualty unit, can help support any claim you may make, as can evidence from potential witnesses at the time the injury occurred.

Finding a personal injury lawyer

If you suspect you have received an injury because of a negligent personal trainer, you may be concerned about how hard it could be to find a lawyer who can help. The good news is it’s easier than many people think. We have a team of personal injury lawyers who have supported many people in finding information on similar claims, and in going through the claims process itself. This means you could be closer to seeking answers than you thought, and since we provide no-obligation advice, a quick call could be all you need to get you the information you want.

Call Accident Advice Helpline now on 0800 689 5659 if you think you have a chance to claim against a negligent personal trainer. You may be confident you do have the grounds to make a no win no fee claim, but if you’re completely uncertain, don’t worry. You can still get the answers very easily when you call us and find out more about the useful service we provide. Others have already taken advantage of our friendly advisors and their extensive experience. Perhaps you can do the same, and you only need to make that call to make it happen.

Found this helpful? Share it!

No win no fee accident claim

If you’ve been injured, you don’t need more stress and hassle.
We make it simple and free to claim compensation.
When you decide to claim with us, we set up a conditional fee agreement. This means you don’t pay any legal fees. If your claim succeeds, our costs are taken out of the compensation award.

Accident Advice Helpline (or AAH) is a trading name of Slater and Gordon UK Limited, a company registered in England & Wales with registration number 07931918, VAT 125 446 327, registered office 58 Mosley Street, Manchester, M2 3HZ and is an approved Alternative Business Structure authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for insurance mediation activity.

†03330 numbers are charged at the same rate as 01 & 02. ‡Texts will be charged at your standard network rate. No-Win No-Fee: *Subject to insurance costs. Fee payable if case not pursued at client's request.